Improvement in eoese-eakes



WILLIAM READ, QF VERNON, INDIAA Letters Patent. No.iv81,0,03, dated August 11, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN HORSE-RAKES.

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TO ALL WHOM IT `MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM READ, of Vernon, in the county of Jennings, and State of In'cliana,'have invented new and useful Improvements in Revolving Hay-Rakes; and I do hercbyvdeclare that the followingl is a full,V clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved arrangement for releasing the rake-head and allowing it to make a A half revolution, and an automatic spring-catch, to prevent any backward motion, the whole being completely under the control of the operator. p

Figure 1 is an oblique projection of the rear ofthe rake. Figure 2 is au isometrical perspective of the lever-frame. Figure 3 is a side elevation. A is the rake-head, and B Bare the handles. These have straps, a a, at their ends, in which the rakehcad revolves in the usual manner. The handles are connected at the top by the hand-bar C, and have between them the tie-beam I). On this beam is bolted the fulcrunilpiece E. The bars S S and stretcher c, form a leverframe, which is pivoted on the fulcrum E by means of the pins s s. G G are .vertical springs, bolted on the.'`

outside of the handles B B, as shown, their lower ends having catches for the reception of the teeth 7c k, and their tips bevelled to form wipes m m. These springs are backed and supported by the springs gg, thc front ends of which are bolted to the handles B, and the others to the wipes m m. i

On the forward ends of the barsS S are rings or staples clv cl. A metallic rod or bar is passed through these, (see fig. 2,) and each end bent downward,l curving outward, as shown in iig. 1, the tips passing through suitable openings in the springs G G a snicient distance above the catches in their lower ends topermit the teeth 7c lc to rest on the catch and under the tips of the rod. This rod forms a draw-spring by reason of the curve given it, so that when the bale portion of it (between the staples d ellis raised by pressing down the stretcher c until `itrests on the hand-bar 0,'as shown in red lines, gsl. 1 and 43, the tips of the spring n are'ldrawn back' ush with the outsidesof the springs G G, and the teeth k lc are free to rise. When the stretcher e is released, the tension on the springy is relaxed, and it immediately assumes its original position, the tips projecting, as shown. i

Operation.

In using the rake, the operator has only to press down the rear end of the lever frame by means ofthe stretcher c, until it comes in contact with the hand-bar C, to release the rake and permit it to revolve1 When a half revolution has been made, the opposite ends of the teeth come in contact with the wipes m m, pressing the Asprings G G back, so far as to allow the teeth kilt to engage with the catches on the lower ends of the said springs.

After releasing .the teeth, as described, if the operator wishes the rake to makebut a half revolution, he'

will remove the pressure on the stretcher e, and. allow the tips ofthe draw-springr to project as at first, to act as -a stop for the teeth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is- 1. The device for releasing the teeth k c, composed of the draw-spring fn, or its equivalent, operatingin connection with the lever-frame described, or other similar device, all arranged substantially as described, and,

for the purposes set forth. v

2. The arrangement of the springs G G, with suitable catches, and wipes m m, together with thebaoking and sustaining-springs g g, for the purpose'of preventing a back revolution of the rake when operating, substantially in the manner as described.

WILLIAM READ.

Witnesses:

HENRY CoNNE'r'r, Jr., A.' M. CoNNErT.. 

